As much as we all love to flock towards the newest model of carbon wheels, power meters, groupsets, etc., one of the most critical pieces of equipment (for both the pros in the peloton and us mere mortals) is often overlooked: the humble saddle. Ideally, the saddle places a rider’s weight firmly on the sit bones while allowing the hips to rotate slightly forward and the thighs to move up and down freely without chafing. Essentially, a properly fit saddle should be almost unnoticeable whilst riding (though a poorly fit saddle will be VERY noticeable).

When I got my new bike, I just couldn’t get the stock saddle to feel quite right, so I borrowed a Specialized Power Saddle from a friend. I never gave it back. (Sorry, JV!) Though by no means a plush saddle, it has just enough give towards the back to keep my buttocks from getting sore, and it has a hole along the centerline, minimizing contact with sensitive areas and reducing weight (I presume). Furthermore, the front swoops in fairly quickly, allowing plenty of room for me to pedal without rubbing my thighs raw and keeping the saddle relatively short in comparison to some others. This last feature may be a concern for some individuals, but it would seem to me that having a short saddle would prevent a rider from moving around too much and keep him/her closer to his ideal riding position (though I have no professional training in bike fitting). While letting people ride my bike though and selling them at Ride On, I have only every known one person who didn’t think the Power Saddle the most comfortable he/she had ever ridden.

Though I have ridden only ever four or five saddles for extended periods of time, I firmly believe that I have found the last saddle I’ll ever ride, even if I moved onto a bike that didn’t sport the Specialized logo.